Ornamental band

ABSTRACT

An ornamental band for displaying a series of inserts in a sealed transparent sleeve about the user&#39;&#39;s wrist. The band has a buckle device that allows either side of the sleeve to be displayed depending upon the manner in which the user connects the sleeve&#39;&#39;s ends together.

Unite States atent Delmer James Hill 3133 Cortland Drive, Vestal, N.Y. 13850 9,549

Feb. 9, 1970 Jan. 4, 1972 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 697,416, Jan. 12, 1968, now Patent No. 3,521,798, dated July 28, 1970. This application Feb. 9, 1970, Ser. No. 9,549

Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented ORNAMENTAL BAND 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl.

Int. Cl G091 3/14 Field of Search 40/10, 21,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,680,315 6/1954 Mcl-lugh et a1. 40/21 C 2,749,634 6/ 1956 Billet et a1 40/21 C 2,829,453 4/ 1958 Mattes 40/21 C Primary ExaminerRobert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Wenceslao J. Contreras Attorney-Charles W. Chandler ABSTRACT: An ornamental band for displaying a series of inserts in a sealed transparent sleeve about the users wrist. The band has a buckle device that allows either side of the sleeve to be displayed depending upon the manner in which the user connects the sleeve's ends togetherv ""Pmmmmmn 3.631.616

FIG-4 INVENTOR DELMER JAMES HILL BY ,Za M rrarney This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Ser. No. 697,416 filed .Ian. 12, 1968 for Wrist Frame" which issued as US. Pat. No. 3,52l,798 on July 28, I970.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is related to devices for displaying identification or ornamental material about a body member, and in particular to a band having a flat transparent sleeve for enclosing such material and buckle means which releasably connect the sleeves ends together to permit the material to be replaced.

Several devices have been disclosed in the prior art for displaying printed information, photos and the like in some form of band carried by the user. For instance, plastic identification bands are often strapped on the wrist of hospital patients. Such bands are not intended to be reused and therefore must be cut from the users wrist because of the permanent manner in which the straps are fastened together.

A band having a transparent sleeve for containing displayed material was disclosed in my aforementioned copending application. The material is contained in such a manner that it can be replaced by opening the end of the sleeve, removing the material and inserting other material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One of the broad purposes of the present invention is to provide an improved band for displaying material in a sealed transparent sleeve that protects the material from dust, moisture and the like while permitting its replacement.

In the preferred embodiment, which will be disclosed in a greater detail, the material or inserts are mounted on an elongated frame which is introduced through the end of the sleeve. A pair of clasps plug the sleeves ends and are connected together by a buckle when the band is being worn. Either clasp can be released from the buckle in order to remove the band, and can be removed from the sleeve in order to replace the inserts.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a band in which either side of the band can be viewed without reversing the position of the buckle, depending upon the manner in which the band is clasped to the buckle. This reversible structure allows the user to mount decorative material on one side of the band, and photographs, a calendar, memorabilia and the like on the opposite side. The band can then be worn with either side being readily visible, and the other side being hidden.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a band having a novel clasp that can be readily connected to or released from its buckle. A still further object is to provide a band that is manufactured of a relatively few components of extruded plastic materials. The preferred embodiment employs only five components that can be assembled without any special tools.

Still further objects and advantages will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains upon reference to the following detailed description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The description refers to the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ornamental band, illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, being worn on a user's wrist;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view showing the preferred band removed from the users wrist and showing the buckle without the watch mechanism;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of one end of the band clasped to the buckle; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing, a preferred ornamental band 10 is shown in FIG. 1, worn about the wrist 12 of a user. It is to be understood, however, that by suitably enlarging the bands components, an ornamental device could be provided for other body members such as the user's neck or waist. A watch mechanism 14 is mounted on the band 10, however, it is contemplated that the band can be worn as an ornamental article without watch mechanism 14.

The band 10 comprises an elongated sleeve 16 formed of a transparent, flexible material. For illustrative purposes, sleeve 16 is an extrusion about 8 inches long having a cavity 18 about 1 1/16 linches wide and 1/16 inch thick. As shown in FIG. 4, cavity 18 has a rectangular cross section.

An elongated frame 20 of flexible material is disposed in sleeve 16. Frame 20 is flat and about 7 inches long, or about 1 inch shorter than sleeve 16. The width of frame 20 accommodates the cavity 18 which allows the frame to be inserted or removed through either end of sleeve 16. A pair of lips 22 are disposed along each side edge of frame 20, The lips 22 on each side of the frame are bent toward one another to prevent the frame from either rolling up or curling from side-to-side. Frame 20 provides means for mounting the inserts that are to be contained in sleeve 16. The lips 22 engage the side edges of the inserts to retain them in their respective positions.

As shown in FIG. 4, typical inserts 24 and 26 are mounted on opposite sides of the frame with their side edges being received in the lips 22. The inserts 24 and 26 may take the form of photographs, licenses, a calendar, a decorative elementor other suitable flat material. The lips 22 allow a series of such inserts to be mounted along opposite sides of the frame and retained in their respective positions as the frame is either placed in or removedfrom cavity 18.

A buckle 28 and a pair ofclasps 30 and 32 are employed for connecting the ends of sleeve 16 together. The two clasps are identical in shape and are mounted on opposite ends of the band. As best shown in FIG. 3, typical clasp 30 is formed with a tongue 34 between a pair of sides 36 and 38. The tongue is formed slightly thicker and wider than the cavity 18 in order to form a snug fit as it is inserted into the end of the band. The purpose of the tongue 34 is to plug or cork its end of the band.

The buckle 28 is in the form of a housing with a pair of openings 40 and 42 in opposite sides of the housing for receiving the clasps 30 and 32, respectively. The width and thickness of each of the openings 40 and 42 accommodates the clasps which contact the top and bottom sides of their respective openings when in a clasped position as shown in FIG. 3. The sides 36 and 38 of each clasp have a series of teeth 44 which clamp the tongue 30 and the end of the sleeve 16 between them as the clasp is being inserted into buckle 28. Thus each clasp seals its end of the sleeve as well as connects the sleeve end to the buckle.

The top and bottom sides of each of the openings 40 and 42 are formed with a recess that defines a lip 46. The clasp side 38 has a tab 48 with a groove 50 receiving one of the lips 46 to lock the clasp in its clasped position. The tab 48 is so formed that as the clasp is received by the buckle 28, the tab is moved toward the opposite clasp side 36 until the groove 50 mates with the lip 46. To release the clasp from the buckle 28, the user must move the tab 48 toward the opposite side of the buckle opening until the lip 46 is removed from the groove 50. The clasp can then be removed from the buckle.

Each of the clasps 30 and 32 can be clasped in either of the buckle openings 40 or 42. Furthermore, each clasp can be reversed in its respective opening and locked in position by mating the tab 48 with the lip 46 on the opposite side of the buckle opening.

Watch mechanism 14 is mounted on an adapter 52 formed with a pair of resilient legs 54. Each leg 54 has a lip 56 which is received into a groove 58 in the buckle 28. The adapter 52 is mounted on the buckle 28 by straddling the legs 54 on opposite sides of the buckle until the lips 56 snap into their respective grooves. The user can remove the adapter 52 by bending the legs 54 away from the buckle sides until the lips 56 snap out of their grooves 58.

It is apparent that l have described in detail a novel band for displaying relatively flat inserts in a readily visible manner. The preferred band eliminates the conventional visible buckle and the unsightly strap holes, and can be assembled without any special assembly tools, sewing and the like. For this reason the preferred band can be sold at a lower price and assembled by the user. The band assembly can be sold with several buckles of different colors thereby allowing the user to wear a buckle that matches her clothes while still retaining the same sleeve and identification contents.

Having described my invention, I claim: 1. An ornamental band suitable for wearing about a body member such as a wrist, neck or waist to display an insert, comprising:

an elongated frame having means along its longitudinal side edges for removably mounting a substantially flat insert;

an elongated sleeve formed of flexible, transparent material for receiving the frame to an enclosed position in the sleeve;

a pair of clasps carried on opposite ends of the sleeve, each clasp being formed to close its sleeve end; and

a buckle having a pair of openings, each receiving a clasp in a clasped position to connect the ends of the sleeve to the buckle to form a band and each buckle opening being formed to release its clasp to open said band.

2. An ornamental band as defined in claim 1, in which each clasp has a tab formed so as to be movable with respect to the buckle between a first position in which the clasp is locked against removal from the buckle, and a second position in which the clasp is removable from the buckle.

3. An ornamental band as defined in claim 1, in which each buckle opening is formed to receive each of said clasps in a clasped position.

4. An ornamental band as defined in claim 1, in which each of said buckle openings is formed to receive a clasp in either of a pair of clasped positions.

5. A band suitable for wearing about a body member to display an insert comprising:

an elongated sleeve having a transparent portion, and an end for receiving an insert to a position in the sleeve in which the insert can be viewed through the transparent portion;

a clasp mounted on the sleeve to close one end thereof, the clasp being removable from the sleeve to allow removal of the insert from the sleeve, and having a pair of relatively movable sides; and

a buckle connected to the end of the sleeve opposite to the end closed by the clasp, the buckle having an opening for receiving the clasp to a clasped position in which the buckle is connected to opposite ends of the sleeve, and in which the relatively movable clasp sides are engaged with opposite sides of the buckle opening such that the clasp can be released from the buckle by moving one of the clasp sides toward the other clasp side.

6. A band as defined in claim 5, in which the clasp has a tongue receivable in the sleeve for sealing the sleeves interior.

7. A band as defined in claim 5, in which the clasp has a pair of relatively movable sides engaged with opposite sides of the buckle opening, and a tongue between said movable clasp sides received in the sleeve.

8. A band as defined in claim 5, including an elongated frame disposed in the sleeve, and lips along opposite side edges of the frame for receiving the edges of the insert.

9. A band as defined in claim 8, in which the frame and the sleeve each have a substantially uniform transverse cross section along their full length. l 

1. An ornamental band suitable for wearing about a body member such as a wrist, neck or waist to display an insert, comprising: an elongated frame having means along its longitudinal side edges for removably mounting a substantially flat insert; an elongated sleeve formed of flexible, transparent material for receiving the frame to an enclosed position in the sleeve; a pair of clasps carried on opposite ends of the sleeve, each clasp being formed to close its sleeve end; and a buckle having a pair of openings, each receiving a clasp in a clasped position to connect the ends of the sleeve to the buckle to form a band and each buckle opening being formed to release its clasp to open said band.
 2. An ornamental band as defined in claim 1, in which each clasp has a tab formed so as to be movable with respect to the buckle between a first position in which the clasp is locked against removal from the buckle, and a second position in which the clasp is removable from the buckle.
 3. An ornamental band as defined in claim 1, in which each buckle opening is formed to receive each of said clasps in a clasped position.
 4. An ornamental band as defined in claim 1, in which each of said buckle openings is formed to receive a clasp in either of a pair of clasped positions.
 5. A band suitable for wearing about a body member to display an insert comprising: an elongated sleeve having a transparent portion, and an end for receiving an insert to a position in the sleeve in which the insert can be viewed through the transparent portion; a clasp mounted on the sleeve to close one end thereof, the clasp being removable from the sleeve to allow removal of the insert from the sleeve, and having a pair of relatively movable sides; and a buckle connected to the end of the sleeve opposite to the end closed by the clasp, the buckle having an opening for receiving the clasp to a clasped position in which the buckle is connected to opposite ends of the sleeve, and in which the relatively movable clasp sides are engaged with opposite sides of the buckle opening such that the clasp can be released from the buckle by moving one of the clasp sides toward the other clasp side.
 6. A band as defined in claim 5, in which the clasp has a tongue receivable in the sleeve for sealing the sleeve''s interior.
 7. A band as defined in claim 5, in which tHe clasp has a pair of relatively movable sides engaged with opposite sides of the buckle opening, and a tongue between said movable clasp sides received in the sleeve.
 8. A band as defined in claim 5, including an elongated frame disposed in the sleeve, and lips along opposite side edges of the frame for receiving the edges of the insert.
 9. A band as defined in claim 8, in which the frame and the sleeve each have a substantially uniform transverse cross section along their full length. 